WELCOME TO C-BASE ----------------- This README file contains important, last minute information about C-BASE. - Installing C-BASE ----------------- It no longer necessary to create a directory for C-BASE using the DOS CD (Create Directory) command. The install program will now do it. So to install or update C-BASE, just insert the C-BASE diskette in drive A: (normally your default floppy drive) and type a:install. - Starting C-BASE --------------- You can bypass the Opening Screen, sending C-BASE directly into the Main Menu Screen when C-BASE is started by typing: cbase DBName, where DBName is the database name you wish to start C-BASE with; or type: cbase D, to start C-BASE with the default database name defined in the Change Default Parameters screen. - EntryDate --------- You can now change the EntryDate of records (the EntryDate appears in the YYYY/MM/DD format). When you Add a record to the database, the default EntryDate is the current system date. Hitting CTRL-END on any date field will set this date; CTRL-HOME will set the date back to the original date in the field. Also the PGUP key will decrement the date by one day and PGDN will increment it by one day. You may also search for records in the Special Search Screen using digits entered in the EntryDate field. - List Records ------------ Now when you list records to screen, file or printer, the total number of records listed will be displayed on the screen at the end of the list. - Screen Display -------------- The top of the screen will now display the following information: Sort=SortField MinDate=date RefNo: min to max Recs: Usd=usedrecs Tot=totrecs where: SortField is Name, RefNo, EntryDate or Deleted depending on the current value (unchanged); * MinDate is the EntryDate of the first record entered into the database; * RefNo displays the minimum and the maximum reference numbers in the database; Recs Usd is the total number of records used in the database (unchanged) Tot is the total number of records (including deleted records) in the database (unchanged). Note: The asterix signifies new information not documented in the manual. If the database does not contain any records, MinDate will be blank and the minimum and maximum RefNos will be zero. - List Records and Change Program Parameters Screen -------------------------------------------------------- To change a program or list parameter you may now use the UPARROW and DOWNARROW keys or type the corresponding number of the parameter you wish to change. - List Records Screen ------------------- The List Records Screen now displays the Name range, RefNo range and the Date range under the Sort field. The default Date range is any dates. When setting both min date and max date to blank, records with any entry dates will be listed. When setting the max list name or date to blank, C-BASE will not check for a maximum name or date. For example: if you set the min name to 'M' and the max name to blank, C-BASE will list all records where the Customer name field starts with 'M' or greater. When listing records, the records listed will be all records which are in the Name range, RefNo range and the Date range and will be sorted by the Sort field value selected. - Define List Format ------------------ Defining a list format (DefFmt) can only be done from the List Records Screen. You can no longer define a list format from Utility Menu item 3 (Change Default Parameters). - RefNo field ----------- When entering a RefNo you need not memorize 65535 as the maximum RefNo; pressing CTRL-END on a RefNo field will put this number in the field. PGDN will increment the RefNo value by 1 and PGUP will decrement it by 1. CTRL-HOME will restore the original reference number in the field. - The CTRL-HOME key ------------- Pressing CTRL-HOME on any field will set the field back to the original value. - Special Search -------------- The Special Search Screen now allows you the option to continue searching from the previous time Special Search was run. If you have made a prior successful search and exited from the Special Search Screen, the message "(C)ontinue, (N)ew, ESC to exit? " will appear at the bottom of the screen. Select "C" if you wish to continue the search from the last record or select "N" to reset the record pointer to 0 and begin a new search. Note the start record number displayed on the screen. The search will start from this record. A question mark ("?") used in the Special Search Screen will match any non- blank character. This can be used to find any fields which are not blank. The at sign ("@") character used in the Special Search Screen will match any blank character. The asterix ("*") will match any number of characters. These templates may be used in combination with each other. Please note that use of the asterix ("*") wildcard can take a considerable time especially in slower processors such as the XT. Summary: '?' matches any non-blank character '@' matches any blank character '*' matches any number of characters - Database Menu ------------- All database menus will now display the total number of records of each C-BASE database to the right of its name. - Field Column Displayed ---------------------- When editing any field, the current column number is now displayed at bottom right-hand corner of the screen. - Define List Output Text screen ------------------------------ When selecting the output date format (first row), the following date formats are available by pressing the space bar: 1) day mmm dd, yyyy 2) mmddyyyy 3) yyyymmdd 4) MM-DD-YY or DD-MM-YY or YY-MM-DD Format number 4 depends on the value set in item 4 (Date format) of the Change Default Program Parameters screen. Previously it was set to MM-DD-YY. - New File Names and Extensions ----------------------------- All client database files now have extension .DBC (Database Clients) instead of .DAT. The defined list format files 0-9 (DefFmt) now are in the form LSTCFMT(0-9) (instead of LSTFMT(0-9)).